DJK

Spring

2008-04-19T19:49:00.004-04:00

I don't have too many childhood memories that don't involve my mom in the yard gardening or planting something. I appreciate so much all those years of her hard work so that I can enjoy all kinds of beautiful surprises this spring. I thought I would share just a few with all of you.

Kimbrells at Thanksgiving

2008-02-08T01:23:00.000-05:00

I think I forgot how this works!

2008-02-08T01:01:00.001-05:00

I know you are all shocked! I mean who takes almost 4 months off from blogging! You may have checked my blog a hundred times since October and NOTHING! I'm so sorry. I'll be brief but I'll catch you all up on me the past few months. Don't worry it won't take long!

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. It was the first time in a long time that my entire family was all together on an actual holiday. Kind of cool for the Kimbrells.

Christmas was great. We all spent Christmas Eve out at the river and had a great time. It was neat to experience Ashlynn and Katelynn finding all that Santa had left them. Matt and Beth came in a little later and had a nice visit. We were all thankful to be together and to celebrate in a new house. On Christmas Eve, the girls were taking me to their room and Ashlynn told me "I'm a little bit fraid of Santa because I love him so much!!" That made complete sense to me. Have you been so in love that it scared you?

January was exciting as well. I was able to spend a few days out in California with EJ an Tripp. Right as we had our first winter storm in Rock HIll....I was landing in sunny California. I had a great time! Thanks again for having me!

February has traditionally been the worst month of the year for me. Not because anything horrible happens but it is always so blame cold!! For those of you who work with me and see me sit with a heater in my lap most of the day- cold is bad and don't even get me started on Valentines Day. Yea..what's that about?! I think God created February and said..."I don't think they can handle anymore than 28 days." SO far so good though! Weather has actually been kind of nice. Mom had a bday- she and I will take in a braves game later this year to celebrate. Woman loves baseball! Other great news! I have tommorow off because I'm headed to Asheville with Ashley to see the Indigo Girls! I'm pretty excited since I have loved them since high school and am just now seeing them. " I'm a little bit fraid b/c I love them so much"

Sure we can debate- Am I supporting a lifestyle that I don't agree with by paying to see them? Yikes...lets talk about something else. Who you voting for? Maybe I should go to bed. I just wanted to say that I am still alive. Sorry for not being so brief! I do hope all of you are well.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-02T23:32:00.000-04:00

I'm a horrible blogger, I know! Just a few pictures of the girls. The top one is them being silly on Granna and Paw Paw's bed at "the Riber." (aka The River) Ashlynn was a princess and Katelynn was a cheerleader for Halloween.

2007-10-10T21:47:00.000-04:00

Not a great picture but I wanted to show how low the water is out there. You can walk around the whole property. I've never seen it this low.

I had Monday off for Columbus Day. I love a bank holiday! :) I spent it with Eddie staining the deck. I took today off too to help with the deck again and the moving process. You read correctly! Yes, moving has started! I never thought I would see this day. Another shout out to the plumber! Great Job Ben! The water works!

I told ya-- we moved stuff today!
Another day is done on Diamond Pointe Lane.

How do you do it?

2007-10-04T21:19:00.000-04:00

All you moms out there........ I have a new found respect for you and what you do each day. I spent the weekend with Ashlynn and Katelynn awhile back while Eddie and Carrie went camping. It was such a fun weekend with them but HOLY COW I was worn out. This was just a short video from the weekend. The girls really love school and like getting smiley faces from their teacher! Ashlynn is saying the nursery rhyme and Katelynn clapped for her.

Mom and Dad might actually be moving this weekend! It works out nicely too with Monday being a bank holiday. Praise God for holidays!

"This is where rednecks come from"

2007-08-30T21:32:00.000-04:00

Ashlynn and Katelynn started 4 year old kindergarten on Wednesday. Everyone actually did really well. They really like their new school. I admit that I got to the post office on Wednesday at the same time they were going to school and shed a few tears thinking about them. I don't know if it was because I was afraid that they were scared of being in a new place or if its that they aren't babies anymore. It won't be long until they are worrying over papers or having their hearts broken. How quickly four years have gone by?!

The counter tops arrived today for the kitchen. The yard is done and is so pretty. Stairs have been built to come off the porch. Shelves have been put in the closets and pantry. All this but still have no idea when they are moving.

So my brother, Eddie, bought a truck out of a pasture for $600. The kids love loading up and taking a drive in Daddy's big truck. Also pictured in this post is Hannah and Kyler. Hannah and Kyler live next door to my parents. Wait...they live next door to me now. They have become quite special to my family. They might as well be my family acutally. They really make me laugh. You don't walk out our back door without them yelling, "Where you going,BJ?"

Happy Birthday Ashlynn and Katelynn!

2007-08-27T23:33:00.000-04:00

I fell in love with killer whales at age four so I
figured no better birthday to give the girls their
first killer whales than their FOURTH BIRTHDAY!
Of course, Katelynn called it a dolphin and Ashlynn
called it a shark. (for the record it does belong to the
dolphin family)

They really enjoyed all their cool surprises!
Mom and Dad can't believe that they have
four year olds that start school on Wednesday.

They were so excited about their birthday cake.
Katelynn wanted Hello Kitty and Ashlynn wanted
a princess theme.

Sweet Little Girls!

Four Year Old Ashlynn and Katelynn!

Landscaping (stage one)

2007-08-22T19:44:00.000-04:00

Appliances, Stairs, Tile, and Paint OH MY!

2007-08-16T19:36:00.001-04:00

So it was supposed to be this weekend that the Kimbrells headed to the lake to do a little full time living. I don't think that is going to happen. One-- because they don't stay home long enough to pack anything and Two- there are some things left to be done at the river. Carpet for upstairs, stain for the hardwood, some landscaping will all need to be done before the big day. I'm not sure how much longer but I'm thinking it has to be before Christmas, right? The great thing about this weekend is that I had kept in clear to help with the move. Now with no move, I have it free. I'll go ahead and beat Eddie and Carrie to the punch...yes I am free for babysitting.

I don't have any pictures to post but it was great to get to hang out with most of my college friends over this past week. Last weekend some of us spent on Lake Norman with Steph's new boat! Thanks for letting me ski! It was sad that August was the first time I got to go this summer. On Monday another group of us met in Greenville. I am so grateful that after 5 years we all still make time to hang out with each other. We missed Ann and EJ this last trip. I guess we can cut them some slack since they live in Alaska and California. No, i don't think so....I mean Beth made it from Hawaii! :)

The Greatest Player in Baseball....

2007-07-22T23:35:00.001-04:00

Albert Pujols! I spent the weekend with my Atlanta friends Chris and Rachel Von Ins. It really was a perfect weekend. The weather, food, company was great and I got to see Albert Pujols and the cards lose to the Braves 14-6. Even with Card's loss it was still a perfect major league experience. Here are a few pictures from Saturdays' game. For the record...tonights game (Sunday) rocked. The Cardinals beat the Braves in extra innings and Pujols hit a homerun.

The view from our seats.

This was Pujols greeting me when I entered the park.
Pujols smiling at me!

Chris, Rachel and me at the game.

River Update

2007-07-19T23:26:00.001-04:00

Hardwood floors have been laid and the windows are done. It really is coming together this last month.

27 Can you believe it?

2007-07-19T23:09:00.000-04:00

So another birthday has come and gone. We headed up the river to my favorite birthday spot by boat..... TBONES on Lake Wylie. It really was a special night. Some aunts, uncles and cousins joined us. We missed you Uncle Wade, Matt, and Beth! A lot of you know what an important birthday tradition this is for me. A lot of you have even sat at that table you see pictured above.

I can't believe I am actually 27.

We have a DATE!!

2007-07-12T23:17:00.000-04:00

I bet your all wondering if I've gotten engaged! Just kidding. The date is August 18th and it is the date my parents should be moving into their new house. Who knows if this will actually take place but that is the date they were given. I bought a mailbox today. Seems kind of funny that a mailbox would be my first purchase for my house.

I helped my mom pack dishes tonight. Oh my gosh, you should see the boxes and its is only a few kitchen cabinets. This next month should be pretty wild around here.

Yes, I'm Still Alive.

2007-06-27T01:01:00.000-04:00

Finally things have started to move again on my parents house. Some of the landscaping has been done as well as sheet rock and the old porch demolished. I'm not sure when it will be finished but it is exciting to see progress again.

I bought my parents house on May 30th...so now they live with me:)
It was such a cool process and I feel unbelievably blessed.

I've been busy with weddings and work and am sorry for how slack I have been.
This past weekend was spent in Greenwood with friends! Great to hang out with y'all (steph, ryan, and ashley) The weekend before that was a family wedding. Congrats to Beth and Marshall. I was taking pictures for the wedding but was able to dance a few numbers with my cousins. It was a beautiful wedding and so fun!

Next week I'll spend in Kentucky with our high schoolers from church doing a bible school for some kids up there. This is a trip that I was fortunate enough to go on while in high school and one summer during college. Our church has been going to this church in KY for 10+ years. Its been so neat to watch these kids grow up over the years. I can't wait to see them again.

I could post a lot more pictures of the lake and and my life as of late but its after 1 am so just this one of the girls playing on the tractor out at the lake will go on tonight.

I having a hard time believing that July is next week. I can't believe how quickly this year is passing.

Hope you all are well.

Honduras

2007-05-30T23:53:00.000-04:00

I spent a week in May in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with Eli. It was so great to visit with her and see her life in Honduras. She is finishing her second year teaching over there. It really is another world. It was so fun using the little high school spanish that I know. It was strange to order a coke and then watch them pour it into a sandwhich bag before giving it to me. These are just a few pictures from the trip.

Homecoming

2007-05-08T22:22:00.000-04:00

Our church celebrated it's 222nd year as a church. It's always an exciting time for our church family but was even more special this year. My brother, Matt, preached at this year's homecoming service. He did a wonderful job! We missed Beth this trip due to school obligations. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Windows..Ugh!

2007-05-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

Drama Drama Drama! The wrong windows were delivered three weeks ago and are still not quite right. We're still waiting for some of the front windows to be corrected but they are mostly right now. The insulation and sheet rock are going in this week and then floors will be next.

I'm finally happy with a picture

2007-04-29T00:22:00.000-04:00

I hung out with some cool folks this afternoon. They are getting married in a couple weeks and wanted some engagement pictures. I take a lot of pictures but never have I been as happy about a shot as I was about these. I can't wait to take the same shots in a few weeks in their wedding attire. I couldn't have asked for a better hill, a cooler tree, or a brighter sun. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Cruisin'

2007-04-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

Ashley, Steph, and I took off for a few days to the Bahamas during March. I am a little late posting pictures but here are a few. It was nice to hang out with them and be somewhere pretty and warm.

Katelynn Flipping Out

2007-04-15T21:31:00.001-04:00


Katelynn does a series of flips in her pajamas in the front yard.

Ashlynn rockin' out

2007-04-09T23:25:00.001-04:00


Ashlynn sings Jesus loves the little children

Porch almost done

2007-04-07T23:27:00.000-04:00

Sitting in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin'...........

2007-03-26T22:33:00.000-04:00

I can be a Shark!

2007-03-21T21:37:00.000-04:00

The girls are taking swimming lessons at the YMCA this month. It is really funny seeing them in this setting. Ashlynn is so serious. You can tell by how stick straight she is sitting in the picture. When she wasn't in the pool that was how she sat the whole lesson. Katelynn was so funny. She loves to kick and wanted to jump in before the teacher could count to three. I feel like they are growing up so fast! It seems like yesterday that I walked in Eddie and Carrie's kitchen and saw these little 4 lb babies in their arms.

Hotdog! There are rooms!

2007-03-12T22:14:00.000-04:00

above is the great room
mom and dad looking out the kitchen window
looking down from upstairs into the great room

the whole front will be windows--this isn't complete yet

And the beat goes on.........

2007-03-12T21:56:00.000-04:00

and by the way our plumber ROCKS!

2007-03-03T22:51:00.000-05:00

fine work done by Emma's Dad.

Check It Out!

2007-03-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

There is more to come.

Ready or Not...Here I come

2007-02-25T20:30:00.000-05:00

Ashlynn and Katelynn like to play hide and go seek at Granna and Paw Paw's house. The way you play this game is Ashlynn and Katelynn hide behind a chair and everyone else hides in the room. They count to whatever they feel like counting to and then come find you. Sometimes they tell you where to hide and what blanket to put over you. Sometimes they give you the freedom to hide where you want to hide. I love this game! Tonight cracked me up because I ran out of places to hide. So in a last ditch effort to be creative I opened the front door to sneak out. I then hear Katelynn yell out "BE CAREFUL." She knew I was leaving and just wanted me to take care. She didn't care that the game would be over because I would be gone. She really is that sweet! I wish you all a good game of hide and go seek. If you're really lucky maybe you can get in a game with my girls!

WALLS

2007-02-18T17:29:00.000-05:00

We have walls. We have walls.

"you hear me?!" as my nieces would say.

This is the beginning of the basement.

Can You find the Star?

2007-01-30T23:08:00.000-05:00

If you look to the left, you'll find the yellow star with a pink bow on its head. Yep, thats me!

Last Saturday...Winthrop defeated Coastal by 2 pts. It was a really exciting game. The first game in Winthrop Bball to ever sell out!

The Winthrop mascot, Big Stuff the Eagle, had a birthday party and invited area mascots out to celebrate his birthday. We did the electric slide and the hokey pokey out on the court at half time.

"What area mascot was I", you ask? I was Brite the star. I am one of two mascots for my credit union! It was fun to be apart of such a cool day!

Seattle 504 days ago

2007-01-27T21:31:00.001-05:00

'>http://I know I went to Seattle almost two years ago but some of you haven't seen those pictures. Coming soon...St. Louis

Cousins

2007-01-13T20:36:00.000-05:00

I spent the afternoon with Will and Emma and their moms.

Thanks Elizabeth - for letting me try some photo tricks with Emma. What a beautiful little model at a week old!!

Will was quite a "poser". Too bad DJ was too slow to catch most of his cute looks!

Emma

2007-01-09T19:27:00.000-05:00

Introducing the Howells

2007-01-09T19:23:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhhh. What naturals?!

My Job

2007-01-04T20:50:00.000-05:00

Its days like today that remind me how much I love my job. I love the public I serve, the people I work with, I even don't mind MONDAY mornings or the paperwork. Seriously, even MATH everyday doesn't get me down. Today I met a gentleman who was 83. He read my name off of my desk and asked me if I knew a man named C.E. He went on to tell me how he use to work for my grandfather. My dad's dad owned a grocery store in town for awhile. This man told me how he use to deliver groceries on his bike for my Paw Paw Kimbrell. I never met my grandfather or two other grandparents that were mine. I'm sure he would have loved me:) Perhaps, I would have been his favorite even :) I am the youngest of the grandchildren and the only one he didn't know about it. My aunt was pregnant with the next to the youngest grandchild when he died. My family tells me stories all the time but it was different today to hear a story from a man that only knew him as a boss and as contributing member of society. He said nice things that made me leave my office with tears in my eyes so thankful. I was thankful for this conversation that reminds me of my roots. I was thankful that I was back in my hometown and my world didn't seem so big. All any of us can ask from our jobs is that it allows us to contribute to our society and make a difference. I'm not a "predatory lender", Matt K. I like the difference my job allows me to make. Am I valuable b/c of my job? No....but thank God He has allowed me to enjoy my 9-5 for now! I hope you all do!

Progress......

2007-01-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2006

2007-01-01T20:34:00.000-05:00

I'm in LOVE!!

2006-12-27T03:06:00.000-05:00

It's 3:06 am in the morning. I do have to work tommorow. Correction- in 5 hours I have fallen in love with my Ipod. I have spent all night loading music on it and just praying that it would work. WEll, now at 3 AM.....it does. I think this little affair will change my life. I never imagined feeling this way about technology. I have always been a fan of music but now that I have access to all my favorites at any given time.. I'm going crazy. I don't want to go to bed b/c there is just one more song I want to hear, then one more, then one more.

My first song to hear....Hearts in Armor Trisha Yearwood

2006-12-18T23:34:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas Everybody!

May Your Soul Feel It's Worth This Holiday Season And Always!!

December 2, 2006

2006-12-04T00:14:00.000-05:00

A Contract was signed. This means a basement is being dug this week. This means a house will be built. This means all is right with the world again. dejionaise.blogspot.com is back on track for River Updates! Check back for pics:)

Sisters!

2006-12-03T23:31:00.000-05:00

They were too cute. I had to take a picture of them after church today before they changed. They only agreed because I promised Granna would give them suckers.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2006-12-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

Mom, Katelynn, Ashlynn, and Carrie all rode in the Tirzah Christmas Parade this afternoon. Tirzah is a small community located within York and Rock Hill. I'm talking small time parade complete with chickens, tractors and of course Santa that lasted all of two blocks. It reminded me of the way things used to be. I'm sure my grandparents went to church, school, and the grocery store with the same people. That was their community. I'm sure they would be blown away by the fact that I can keep up with my friends all over the world through the internet. What the railroad did back in the day, the internet is doing for us now. Our world isn't so big, is it? The pictures are from today's parade.

It's Miller Time

2006-11-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

The Ewings made their way to Rock Hill tonight. Thanks for making the trip y'all! Or should I say, Mahalo! It was so wonderful to see y'all and meet little Miller. What a beautiful, sweet baby! I take for granted that everyone in my life knows everyone else. Beth(in the green) is a wonderful friend from Lander. She and Jon and their baby, Miller, live in Hawaii now and were visiting for the holidays. Elizabeth( soon to be Emma's mom) another wonderful friend from my ENTIRE life is also pictured.

Finally!!

2006-11-19T21:16:00.000-05:00

Here is my mom walking out onto her new patio!
Just Kidding! I do have a funny story to share about the picture below. My mom and I were walking around a new neighborhood out at the lake with homes with basements. She just wanted to get some ideas. We found a few unlocked doors and took a peak inside. In one house, we walked outside on the deck and when we tried to go back in, the door was locked. There were no stairs to get down off the porch.

They only way down was to crawl over the rail and jump from the cross beam. I must say that the picture doesn't do the jump justice. It was pretty frightening. What was really funny is my own mother pressuring me to do this. She actually said, "I'm going to tell everyone what a coward you are", if I didn't do it. So now that my mom can't tell everyone what a coward I was going to be I am going to trumpet my own heroics. "I'm 26 years old, I can be brave, I can be bold." Maybe one day I'll be able to post pictures of the actual house going up. Mom and Dad are still in the house plan phase. Yes, this is the phase they have been in for four years. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! Looking forward to some good food and front yard football with the cousins.

Trick or Treat!

2006-11-13T20:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween! Yes, I am a few weeks late in posting these pictures. I know so many of you have already seen these. They don't look like the happiest butterflies in these pictures but they had a good time!

Amanda and Jeremy's Wedding

2006-10-30T18:42:00.000-05:00

I tired to post more but couldn't! Anyway, 3 weeks ago Amanda and Jeremy got married. Congrats to the bride and groom! I know most of you know these two!

2006 World Series Champions

2006-10-28T00:20:00.000-04:00

I think I understand now why Baseball is America's favorite past time! I'm thankful it is over....now I can have my life back.

I had no idea that when I visited St Louis back in May that the empty stadium you see above would be filled with the cheers, tears, and excitement that filled it tonight.

Congratulations to the St Louis Cardinals!

Miss Me!

2006-10-23T23:37:00.000-04:00

I guess lately I have been too busy to blog because I've been watching baseball like crazy! Also there hasn't been any progress in the river adventure so I have no pictures to post. I battled the whole "can i really post a blog w/o a picture or video?" question. I'm doing it! No pictures..just straight news.

River: mom fell out at the river while burning some limbs. In the process she also burned some of her limbs(arms). She had a hospital stay but is doing really well now! The river remains empty and my parents continue to battle over house plans. Will they ever start to build?!
Baseball has really consumed most of my life these past few weeks. Good thing the season is about over, maybe I'll get stuff done again! This is funny to just about all of you b/c I don't normally keep up with sports. I've just been really impressed with the Cardinals first baseman.. Albert Pujols. The man is not only the best player in the game but a very respectable guy! Will, Miller, Cam, Parker.....he's the sports hero you want to be like!

Meet Parker

2006-09-13T22:56:00.000-04:00

This picture is of my college roommate's family. Stephanie and I drove to Spartanburg tonight to hang out with Ann and Philip and to meet Parker. It was so cool to watch them be parents and to hold that precious baby!

"Paw Paw make a mess"

2006-09-04T21:25:00.000-04:00

I woke up early on my day off to see "the room" being destroyed or what I like to call "downstairs" :). I actually did tear up during this part of the demolition. Only the porch remains and it will come down in pieces in the near future. I was recalling why I wanted so badly to be there for that moment (seeing it torn down) realizing that I have a need to be there to mark the end. I remembered standing in hosptial rooms as those I loved dearly slipped away for the same reason- to know in my head/heart that final moment. Steel Magnolias and Dad are just two of the movies that capture this emotion so well. This is probablly why they are two of my favorites! If you haven't seen them, Shame on You-Check them out! The room came down this morning and for the rest of the day you could see smoke rise above the trees on top of that little mountain as it burned. We enjoyed the holiday with family friends on the river. The pictures were from tonight. We stopped by on our way home to back up some things that were left on the porch. The girls' catch phrase now when they come out there to see what has happened is "Paw Paw make a mess."

Yippee! We're Three!

2006-08-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Katrina

2006-08-24T21:37:00.000-04:00

Matt Bailey said it looked like Hurricane Katrina! I have laughed for days about this because now it really does look like a Hurricane has hit! I had the morning off from work and got to witness the trailer being torn down. You would think watching your home of three years being destroyed would be sad (depending on the circumstances). I don't think I stopped smiling the whole time. I am just so excited to see my parents start this process. I hold my breath each time I pull into the driveway for I have no idea what my eyes will behold. It was pretty stinking amazing to watch this machine destroy something in a few minutes. My parents have really cool kids that live next door. The little boy is 3 and loves back hoes and all big equipment. I started to understand his fascination today and wished so badly that he could be there with us to witness all that power. I guess we all have this in us, right? Who hasn't built something in the sand just to knock it down?!

It's About Time....

2006-08-21T23:30:00.000-04:00

Some trees and my bedroom are missing out at the river which puts me back home.

Here they are

2006-08-21T23:10:00.001-04:00

This was a picture of the girls and me last weekend. They came to spend the night. I think they finally fell asleep around midnight. I had to shake my finger and say, " you girls are keeping me up!" (and try not to smile while saying it) I can't believe they will be three on the 27th of August. Katelynn is in red and Ashlynn is in shorts.

Lady in the Water

2006-07-29T22:18:00.000-04:00

Yea....so I saw it. I must say that I love ol' M Knight Shyamalan. I think he is such a gifted writer, director and producer. People usually either love or hate his films. This one had its spooky moments. I was so freaked out that even if the sprinklers came on in the movie, I would jump. I liked the movie. I thought is was good and worth seeing but not as believable as his others. The funny thing is M Knight usually has a cameo in all his movies but dog gone if he wasn't a central character in this one. You might could wait to see this one on video. I can't wait to see Talladega Nights as well as the Coast Guard/Kevin Costner movie that is coming out.
In other news....its about to be August and last night was the first time I have been water skiing this summer. Yes, my body feels like it has been a year since I have done this. Its cool how things come back to you. I like the cliche...."its like riding a bike." How cool of God to allow us all things that come naturally. Water skiing comes naturally to my brother Matt. He and his wife were home this week for a visit. Always good to be with them! Watching him ski is always a highlight of every summer.

So Lately....

2006-07-22T21:56:00.000-04:00

My friend, Katie, has been on me for awhile about getting a blog. I'm visiting her and her wonderful husband and beautiful son this weekend. So I am being forced to set one up. Katie and I were both psychology majors in college and always found ourselves in deep conversations. This blog is an attempt to share my thoughts with her again. She may just be the only one to read it!